Refrigeration appliance with compartments that can be heated and cooled

Abstract

A refrigeration appliance, especially domestic refrigeration appliance, includes a compressor, a condenser, at least a first evaporator, a suction line from the first evaporator to the compressor, at least one heat exchanger switchable between condenser operation and evaporator operation, and a valve arrangement switching the heat exchanger between an evaporator operating state, having a switchable heat exchanger inlet connected to the condenser through a first choke point and a switchable heat exchanger outlet connected to the first evaporator, and a condenser operating state, having the switchable heat exchanger outlet connected to the evaporator through a second choke point. A first supply line for supplying refrigerant in the evaporator operating state and a second supply line, separate therefrom, for supplying refrigerant in the condenser operating state, are associated with the switchable heat exchanger. Only the first supply line is connected with the suction line, forming an external heat exchanger.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A refrigeration appliance or household refrigeration appliance, comprising:
 a compressor;   a condenser;   at least one first evaporator;   a suction line running from said at least one first evaporator to said compressor;   at least one heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet and being switchable between condenser and evaporator operation;   first and second choke points; and   a valve arrangement for switching said at least one switchable heat exchanger between an evaporator operating state having said inlet of said at least one switchable heat exchanger connected to said condenser through said first choke point and said outlet of said at least one switchable heat exchanger connected to said at least one first evaporator, and a condenser operating state having said outlet of said at least one switchable heat exchanger connected to said at least one evaporator through said second choke point; and   a first supply line and a second supply line being separate from each other and associated with said at least one switchable heat exchanger, said first supply line configured for supplying refrigerant in said evaporator operating state and said second supply line configured for supplying refrigerant in said condenser operating state, and only said first supply line being connected to said suction line to form an internal heat exchanger.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 13 , wherein said second choke point includes a controlled expansion valve. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 13 , wherein said at least one switchable heat exchanger is connected in parallel with said condenser in said condenser operating state. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 13 , wherein said valve arrangement includes a valve configured to be shut off at said first supply line. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 13 , wherein said at least one switchable heat exchanger includes two switchable heat exchangers configured to be switched between said evaporator operating state and said condenser operating state independently of one another. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 17 , which further comprises first and second compartments, said first compartment having a volume being between 150% and 250% of a volume of said second compartment, and said two switchable heat exchangers being configured to heat or to cool said first and said second compartments. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 17 , wherein said compressor has an outlet, and said valve arrangement includes a directional valve being closed in said evaporator operating state and, in said condenser operating state of at least one of said two switchable heat exchangers, connecting said inlet of said at least one heat exchanger to said outlet of said compressor, at least for a time. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 17 , wherein said compressor has an outlet, said two switchable heat exchangers are first and second heat exchangers, and said valve arrangement is configured to be switched in a clocked manner between a first open position connecting said outlet of said compressor to said inlet of said first heat exchanger, and a second open position connecting said outlet of said compressor to said inlet of said second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         21 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 13 , which further comprises a second evaporator connected in series upstream of said first evaporator and connected in parallel with said at least one switchable heat exchanger. 
     
     
         22 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 21 , which further comprises a third choke point, said at least one first evaporator and said second evaporator being connected through said third choke point. 
     
     
         23 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 22 , wherein said third choke point includes a controlled expansion valve. 
     
     
         24 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 21 , which further comprises a connection line between said at least one first evaporator and said second evaporator being connected to said suction line to form a section of said internal heat exchanger.